SUMMARY
- Karen Khachanov has an unconventional name, and once a reporter asked him why he had a girl's name.
- Even John Isner got confused by his name, thinking it was his mother's.
When Russian player Karen Khachanov made his ATP debut, his name became a major talking point. Thanks to his exploits, Khachanov gave the tennis community something other than his name to talk about. It is still talked about, though, and once a reporter finally gave in and asked him directly.
Karen is a prolific tennis player, and he has carved a niche for himself with his racket. He has steadily climbed up the ladder, and he has established himself among the top 20 players currently. Khachanov has caused massive upsets in his career, and he is still a formidable opponent.
However, a few years ago, when he was competing at the Chengdu Open, a journalist asked Khachanov a bizarre question: “Why’ve you got girl’s name?” The question caught him off guard, but Khachanov gave a very dignified response, and the entire interaction has surfaced on social media recently.
Still probably one of the worst questions that I’ve ever seen a player get asked ☠️ pic.twitter.com/NLjdQIPaLf
— Olly 🎾🇬🇧 (@Olly_Tennis_) February 17, 2024
Khachanov’s name is actually pronounced “Kar run” given his ancestry. He brushed off the question with ease, but not before answering, “It is not girl’s name. It is Armenian,” he said in a deep voice (via We Are Tennis).
Khachanov’s name has been the subject of jokes because, much like the reporter, many believe it is a girl’s name. Even former tennis star John Isner, who was set to play against him, got a little confused. He thought it was Kachanov’s mother’s name.
While Karen Khachanov’s name might be the subject of intrigue, he has quietly made his mark on the tennis courts. The 27-year-old is currently ranked 17 in the Pepperstone ATP rankings and has several titles under his belt.
Karen Khachanov has won quite a few titles so far in his career
Khachanov is an exciting player, with already five ATP titles under his belt, and he is hungry for more. Injuries have plagued him throughout his career, but he has come back harder each time.
Karen won his first title in 2016 at the Chengdu Open. He was unseeded at the tournament, which was in its first edition. He defeated Albert Ramos Vinolas 6−7(4−7), 7−6(7−3), 6−3 to claim his first ATP title.
2018 was a successful year for Karen, as he picked up three pieces of silverware, including his first Masters 1000. He defeated Novak Djokovic at the Rolex Paris Masters. In doing so, he became the first Russian player since Nikolay Davydenko to win a Masters 1000 final. That year, Karen also won titles in Moscow and Marseille.
Karen Khachanov won his fifth title at the Zhuhai Open in 2023. He defeated Yoshihito Nishioka in straight sets. Khachanov has struggled a little to find his footing since his injuries, but he will hope to return to the tour very soon.